By PIPER KLEMM
A Change.org petition that is calling for the removal of Wellington International CEO Murray Kessler is gaining momentum within the equestrian community, accumulating hundreds of signatures within hours of its launch. The petition, directed at Wellington International’s leadership, urges the organization to relieve Kessler of his duties in the wake of a battery allegation filed by the venue’s own Sponsorship Director, Lenore Brown.
Read the petition here.
Frustration continues to spread in the community about a complete lack of action-based response to a battery allegation in the MODON VIP Tent at the Winter Equestrian Festival that has rattled one of the sport’s most prestigious venues.
While petitions are relatively rare in the equestrian industry for landmark or widespread change, Lindsay Ayers’ petition to for the USEF Board to remove CEO Bill Moronoey with a vote of confidence gained much discussion in Fall 2025 and almost two thousand signatures in a membership of around 80,000. Mr. Kessler’s petition for removal has had a more rapid initial growth rate than Mr. Moroney’s.
Mr. Kessler, who US Equestrian’s Natalie Voss confirmed for this article is a member in good standing with up to date Safe Sport training despite what the database erroneously says, was president of US Equestrian from 2017-2020 under the leadership of USEF CEO Bill Moroney.
US Equestrian has also failed to respond or address the membership on the accusations of the largest horse show circuit under their regulation. Additionally, as the property owner of the US Open, US Equestrian selects, sponsors, and endorses Wellington International for Rolex Finale Week 12 as host site for their event with a $200,000 cash sponsorship. The $1 million 5* class for elite riders was won by German rider Christian Kukuk in 2025. Members interviewed feel that a petition is the last resort to have their voice heard when USEF fails to address what writing a check of that magnitude to an organization and a CEO endorses. Given the current financial ties and employment histories, it is hard to not feel like US Equestrian is directly endorsing allegedly battering a female employee in the MODON VIP Tent at their largest horse show circuit.
While The Plaid Horse does not cover sexual assault, battery, or SafeSport, (Horse Network does a great job speaking up for victims and we encourage you to read their coverage and The Chronicle of the Horse makes sure to show the other side by publishing releases from defense attornies), we are very interested in activism and systemic change, which this petition, inspired by the Horse Network article, is bringing about. Mr. Moroney and Mr. Kessler both have done a lot of work for this sport and at this point, the negative they bring this sport outweighs the positive and both are in positions that there is no logical way for members or show participants to communicate these values. While a Change.org petition feels in many ways crass, literally nothing rational is working to help build an effective team to lead our sport forward.
I do not know Mr. Kessler and I interviewed him once remotely for the Plaidcast this December where I asked him about the future of the horse show. He was magnanimous, positive, and decisive. He very clearly sees the future of Wellington, the future of the horse show. He had zest about doing his job. I was optimistic that he could harness this to make effective change. Unfortunately, regardless of anything else, negative publicity is bad for our sport and Mr. Kessler has a lot of it right now. Negative publicity compromises the ability to do any job in the public eye. This isn’t smoking- you can’t just get more people to start. We are a small, dedicated, and tight-knit community and there are consequences to actions. As a 50-year member of the Wellington Community, it is interesting that either he doesn’t know or believes he is in a position to disregard that. The entire property of Wellington International, including the MODON VIP Tent during Rolex Week 12, should be a safe space for everyone to spectate, do their jobs, and exist without fear of physical action from management.
When Mr. Kessler was interviewed for The Chronicle of the Horse starting this job in 2024, he was asked what quotes he lives by and his response was, “I have a bunch of quotes I use that I would consider advice in different areas, like, ‘The first thing you need to do when you’re in a hole is to stop digging.’”
